Adjustable fore-end rest for target rifles



Oct. 28, 1958 c. G. MORRISON 2,8575701 ADJUSTABLE FORE-END REST FOR TARGET RIFLES Filed Sept. 13, 1957 United States Patent ADJUSTABLE FORE-END REST FOR TARGET RIFLES This invention relates to firearms, and more more particularly to an adjustable fore-end rest for a firearm of the type having a forestock bottom plate ordinarily employed for securing the forward end of a sling-strap thereto.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved adjustable hand abutment unit for a rifle of the type having a forestock bottom plate member, the abutment unit being simple in construction, being easy to attach, and providing a means for rapidly adjusting the abutment position of the users hand without requiring the use of tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable hand abutment unit for a rifle of the type having a foresto-ck bottom plate member, said hand abutment unit being inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, and being usable with equal advantage by either left-handed or right-handed marksmen.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a rifle equipped with an improved hand abutment unit according to the present invention, shown held by a marksman in firing position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the rifle of Figure 1 showing the manner in which the adjustable hand abutment unit is located beneath the forestock bottom plate of the rifle of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates a conventional rifle of the type having a forestock 12 and having a forestock bottom plate 13 fastened to the underside of the forestock 12, and normally being provided with a stud member 14 to which is pivoted a rigid ring 15 adapted to be engaged with the front loop of the slingstrap 16 of the rifle in the manner illustrated in dotted view in Figure 3.

In accordance with the present invention, a hand abutment unit is employed, said hand abutment unit being designated generally at 17 and comprising a rectangular block 18 which is fastened to the forestock bottom plate 13 in any suitable manner, for example, by a headed fastening screw 19 extending through the intermediate portion of the block 18 and threadedly engaging in the forestock bottom plate 13 in the manner shown in Figure 3. A second headed screw 20 is employed, said screw extending through the pivot stud member 14 and through an opening in the block 18, spaced longitudinally from the opening in which the screw 19 is received, the screw 20 being threadedly engaged in the forestcck bottom plate 13 in the same manner as the screw 19.

As is clearly shown in Figure 3, the longitudinally aligned screws 19 and 20 hold the block 18 rigidly to the bottom plate 13, the screw 20 being located forwardly of the screw 19, namely, adjacent the forward end of block 18.

The rear portion of the block 18 is formed with a transverse bore 21, and slidably engaged in said bore is a clamping rod 22 provided at one end with a reduced threaded shank portion 23 on which is threadedly engaged a clamping nut 24 having a knurled peripheral edge and being of substantial diameter so that it may be easily grasped and rotated manually. As shown in Figure 4, the nut 24 bears against one side surface of the block 18 so that it may exert an axial force on the clamping rod 22 responsive to the tightening of the clamping nut 24.

Designated at 25 is a hand abutment member which may be formed of any suitable material, for example, cast aluminum or the like, and which is formed with the rearwardly convex, smoothly polished rear surface 26. Designated at 27, 27 are a pair of parallel supporting rods whose ends are received in suitable recesses 28, 28 and which are secured in said recesses by any suitable means, such as by set screws 29. The main block 18 is formed with a pair of longitudinal bores 30, 30 located to slidably receive the supporting rods 27, 27, as shown in Figure 4, and the clamping rod 22 is similarly formed with a pair of transverse bores 31, 31 through which the rods 27, 27 pass. As will be readily apparent, the abutment block 25 may be adjusted to any desired position and may be locked in said position by tightening the clamping nut 24, which causes the clamping rod 22 to exert axial clamping force and to frictionally clamp the supporting rods 27, 27 in their associated bores 30, 30.

As will be readily apparent from Figure 2, the abutment member 25 may be adjusted to the desired position, and secured to said position by tightening nut 24. The marksman may then use the firearm in the manner shown in Figure 1, wherein the hand supporting the forestock 12 may engage against the adjustable abutment member 25, without jamming or pinching, and whereby the forward portion of the rifle will be firmly and comfortably supported, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The clamping rod 22 may be readily reversed, since it is merely necessary to disengage the supporting rods 27, 27 therefrom, and pull out the clamping rod, whereby it may be inserted from the opposite side of the main block 18 and adjusted to again receive the supporting rods 27, 27. This makes it possible for either a right-handed or a left-handed marksman to use the device on a firearm.

While a specific embodiment of an improved adjustable hand abutment unit for a rifle has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable hand abutment unit for a rifle of the type having a forestock bottom plate member comprising a block, means to fasten said block rigidly beneath the forestock bottom plate member, a hand abutment member, a plurality of parallel support rods secured to said abutment member, said block being formed with longitudinal bores slidably receiving said support rods, said block being formed with a transverse bore intersecting said longitudinal bores, a clam ing rod slidably mounted in said transverse bore, said clamping rod being formed with transverse bores receiving said support rods, and means to apply axial force on said clamping rod, whereby to cause said clamping rod to clampingly engage said support rods and to lock the abutment memher in adjusted position relative to the block.

2. An adjustable hand abutment unit for a rifle of the type having a forestock bottom plate member comprising a block, means to fasten said block rigidly beneath the forestock bottom plate member, a hand abutment member, a plurality of parallel support rods secured to said abutment member, said block being formed with longitudinal bores slidably receiving said support rods, said block being formed with a transverse bore intersecting said longitudinal bores, a clamping rod slidably mounted in said transverse bore, said clamping rod being formed with transverse bores receiving said supporting rods, and a clamping nut threadedly engaged on an end of the clamping rod and being engageable with a side surface of the block, whereby to apply axial force on said clamping rod and to cause said clamping rod to clampingly engage said support rods and to lock the abutment member in adjusted position relative to the block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,577 Roberts Mar. 29, 1938 2,116,618 Crockett May 10, 1938 2,598,885 Bretton June 3, 1952 

